Pewsey War Memorial Cross
The churchyard, Church of St John the Baptist, Church Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9 5DL
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1451859
- Date first listed:
- 30-Jan-2018
- List Entry Name:
- Pewsey War Memorial Cross
- Statutory Address:
- The churchyard, Church of St John the Baptist, Church Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9 5DL
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1451859
- Date first listed:
- 30-Jan-2018
- List Entry Name:
- Pewsey War Memorial Cross
- Statutory Address 1:
- The churchyard, Church of St John the Baptist, Church Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9 5DL
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- The churchyard, Church of St John the Baptist, Church Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9 5DL
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Pewsey
- National Grid Reference:
- SU1633759899
Summary
First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Pewsey War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* a monumental wheel-head cross in the Celtic style.
Group value:
* with the Church of St John the Baptist (listed Grade I) and churchyard monuments listed at Grade II.
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised at Pewsey as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 33 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 1 May 1921. The names of 23 parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
Details
The tall stone memorial stands in the churchyard to the north-west of the Church of St John the Baptist (listed Grade I) and in close proximity to a number of churchyard monuments listed at Grade II. It comprises a wheel-head cross set on a large rough-hewn plinth, on a square base. A sword is carved in relief on the north-west (front) face of the cross.
The main inscription, incised in a recessed panel on the front face of the plinth, reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN OF/ THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918/ (33 NAMES)/ “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.”
A further recessed panel has been added to the south-east (rear) face of the plinth, to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Second World War. The incised inscription reads 1939-45/ (23 NAMES).
A small rectangular stone tablet at the foot of the plinth on the south-east side commemorates one member of the parish who died serving in Northern Ireland.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 25 May 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/24145
War Memorials Online, accessed 25 May 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/231478/
Pewsey War Memorial, accessed 25 May 2017 from http://www.wiltshire-opc.org.uk/Items/Pewsey/Pewsey%20-%20War%20Memorial.pdf
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 25-Jun-2026 at 06:14:24.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.